The prototype of Xiaomi’s foldable smartphone that can be folded outwards has been leaked. Consultant Kuba Wojciechowski posted photos of the allegedly complex Xiaomi model on his Twitter account. The device bears some similarities to the Huawei Mate X series and joins a very small class of foldable smartphone screens.

Huawei Mate X series and Royole FlexPai series are few devices with foldable screen. There are several foldable Xiaomi devices (Mi Mix Fold and Mix Fold 2), both of which fold inwards, as the fold-out system is more complex. Leaked images give a first look at Xiaomi’s intriguing folding model. Photos by Wojciechowski show the folding design of the prototype. The photos show a Huawei Mate X-like rear camera panel.

According to the leaked images, there are at least four cameras in the camera panel. The images also show some of the insides of the phone, including the batteries, circuits and other components. The informant states that the prototype is likely equipped with a Snapdragon 856 processor and an X50 5G modem.

Wojciechowski also says that several units of the model are already in the public domain, but remains silent on why the model did not go into commercial production. The logical reason for Xiaomi to reject the prototype may be durability. A smartphone that folds out has many challenges to overcome and is less durable than designs that fold in. It is also prone to scratches, cracks and other damage. Source